Thomas More College names McAuley's Ron Russo next cross country coach

The Colerain High School girls cross country team is going for the third straight state title with from the left front, Alison Zeinner, Kelly Crum, coach Ron Russo, Alison Bedingfield, Catie Grebe, back from left, JenniferLimle, Terie Littlepage, Shelly Dickinson and and Lori Siconolfi.(Photo: Enquirer file photo)Buy Photo

CRESTVIEW HILLS – Ron Russo has spent decades mentoring and developing some of the best talent in the area in cross country and track and field.

Now, he's taking that experience to the collegiate level.

Thomas More College introduced Russo Monday as the head coach of its men's and women's cross country programs.

Russo, a former standout himself at Colerain High School who went on to coach at Colerain from 1990-2009 and McAuley since 2009, won four consecutive Division I state championships at Colerain (1997-2000).

Russo has coached 22 all-state cross country student-athletes and more than 40 all-state track & field student-athletes. More than 25 athletes who Russo has coached have gone on to compete in college.

Thomas More Director of Athletics Terry Connor said in a statement: "We are very excited that Ron is joining the Thomas More community as our new cross country coach. His success at Colerain and McAuley high schools will help him build a successful program at Thomas More and take the program to a new level.”